Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Amazon]

After mooching about the internet for ages looking for classic caravans we finally spot a mention of the above caravan.

I sent a message to the owner and discover that quite amazingly the caravan is just 2 miles from our home! Half an hour later we've viewed it and struck a deal. This is what we've bought:



It's a 1973 Cheltenham Super Sable.
Although the owners thought it just needed a 'spring clean', we decide to strip off all the old paint, this is taken half way through this process (luckily I work for an abrasives company!!) It has been repainted in recent years, but most of that is simply peeling off.



- The other issues that we have to tackle are that the window rubbers and plastics all perished. On the front end this has meant that water has seeped through and turned the window sill type area into mush, although now completely dry as we haven't had rain in ages.

Ian has removed all of this and quite amazingly underneath that it all appears to be completely dry.



Other issues are that it needs rewiring (the tail lights were apparently chewed off by the sheep! The gas needs checking. The underside is solid, but we'll repaint that too.

We have a few queries and hope that some of you guys will be able to advise!

Firstly, what are we best using as a filler? Do we use fibre glass, or is there something better?

Also what do we paint it with? I have seen a post about using gloss, but think that there must be other solutions. What have other people used? I wonder if marine paint would be as good as anything? I have also read about Tekaloid and Lechler being good, but we have no idea what to opt for.

All help most gratefully received!

Many thans!

_________________
Ian and Caron

[Clarina]

If you 'google' for 'Cheltenham Owners Club' there is a lot of info on their site. I found this site when I was looking for info on Poulard Awnings.
Hope this helps, good luck with your project.
Gill

[Amazon]

Many thanks Gill,
We have seen their site and are about to join their club, which I'm sure will prove useful.

Once again, many thanks.
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Ian and Caron

[gillberry]

Membership is £10.00 a year and a friendly crowd, we are going again this year to the national, have been twice in the Fawn and now looking forward to our first time in the nyala

we have not towed it yet with the Amazon as she goes in next week for stiffer springs etc then we have a local show the next week for a trial run, so will have to see if the will make it from Norwich to Ledbury if not my astra will have to tow her

[Amazon]

Our Amazon too needs stiffening, it's got new Monroes on the back but they are as soft as rice pudding!

We did have a more modern caravan but she wasn't happy pulling her, but seems fine with the Cheltenham.

What's at Ledbury then??
Ian is from near there and wondering if there's something interesting he can go to!
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Ian and Caron

[Brian M]

Hi Amazon

This forum is turning into "Amazon/Classic Caravan owners"

I got this set of Load Adjuster rear shocks from Ebay for £26 and they have transformed my car both when travelling solo and when towing.



Made the back end a bit firmer for spirited driving and stopped bottoming out when towing my Safari.
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Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

[gillberry]

Ledbury is the Cheltenham owners club national held from the 28th to 31st of may (its held on the rugby club) . They are a really friendly bunch and can give lots of advice and info . As to paint , coach paint is recomended although our nyala was painted in rover arran white (old english) and we have just bought 1litre of this for touch ups and gap filling . Your caravan sides are aluminium but front back and roof are fibre glass so depending what sort of holes you have p38 car filler should be enough .
If you aren't too far away from Ledbury pop down on the saturday and have a look around its useful doing this when you have ideas and want to see what others have done .

[Amazon]

Those springs are ideal Brian and just the kind of thing we need for ours.
Ian has his eye on some Bilsteins, but I don't like the price!!

Wow, that could be perfect Gilberry!
We live in Yorkshire but are on holday in south Wales (with caravan and car all being well) for that week!
I should get around to posting the application form for Cheltenham membership this weekend! Their website has some great info, extremely useful.
Thanks for advice re filler and paint too.

We've had enough sanding and going out now to test the electrics! Fingers crossed!
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Ian and Caron

[gillberry]

Got the amazon back from the garage friday with new shocks 10% uprated rear springs and a few other adjustments . WOW what a difference she handles a lot better .
Also on fridaywe towed our 1000kg Cheltenham Nyala with her the same day and you could feel the weight on the back but cruised at 50 fine so very happy .

[nickybryant50]

Please does anyone have an RAL code or BS code for the white of a Cheltenham Puku? thanks, Nicky x

[Highland classics]

RAL 9001 cream white was a good match for my 69 cheltenham nyala.

[nickybryant50]

Thanks for that, I have ordered it today from Andrews Coatings!

[Fluffle-Valve]

Hi Ian and Caron,

Is this caravan painted yet?
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Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive.

[cheltenham-sable]

hi there we are new on here and have a few vintage tractors, we now own the caravan and have done alot of work to it! Just got it painted today.. Are ian and carol still on here? I bought it off a chap called david bell near thirsk..

Regards Tom

[bob2]

any photos of it in its new paint?!
we all love to see photos